Niuean general election, 2008
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in Niue
on June 7, 2008. They were initially expected to be held in April, but were delayed until June 2008. Niue has a 20 member legislative assembly, called the Niue Assembly
, whose members are elected by approximately 600 registered voters. The assembly consists of 20 total members, 6 elected on a common roll and 14 representatives of the villages
, who is also the Secretary of the Niue Department of Justice, Lands and Survey. However, since Sioneholo was also a candidate, he had to go on leave as required by the Niue Public Service Regulations. Hubert Kalauni took over the control and management
of the election as Sioneholo's replacement. (Sioneholo successfully won a seat in the Niue Legislative Assembly.)
, who has been a member of the Niue Legislative Assembly
for twenty years and was re-elected, remarked that the election was a call for change by Niuean voters. Jacobsen believed that the election would lead to a new government and a new Premier of Niue
. She openly supported Toke Talagi
's candidacy for the incoming prime ministership against current Premier Young Vivian
.
One of the three incumbent
common assembly MPs who failed to be re-elected was Hima Douglas
, former High Commissioner to New Zealand, who was unseated by Niue's Secretary of Justice Togia Sioneholo
. Two female candidates, Mahetoi Hekau and Esther Pavihi, were elected as new members thereby unseating two incumbent MPs, Michael Jackson
and Krypton Okesene.
In the capital and main village of Alofi
, challenger Dalton Tagelangi easily defeated the incumbent member in the Alofi South constituency.
had a clear majority.
The highest polling candidate in the election, incumbent MP Toke Talagi
, stated he was considering to challenge Young Vivian
for the premier's post; caretaker Deputy Premier Fisa Pihigia stated he would also stand if Talagi decided to stand, as Pihigia considered himself to be better suited to fend off a challenge from Talagi than Vivian.
Eventually, Talagi and Vivian stood for premier. Talagi was elected on Thursday, June 26, 2008, with fourteen votes to Vivian's five, with one abstaining.
Atapana Siakimotu was returned unopposed as Speaker of the House.
On Thursday 20 June 2008, Hon Premier Toke Talagi announced through TV Niue the other three members of his Cabinet of Ministers, Hon Pokotoa Sipeli, Hon Togia Sioneholo and Hon O'love Tauveve Jacobsen.
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
on June 7, 2008. They were initially expected to be held in April, but were delayed until June 2008. Niue has a 20 member legislative assembly, called the Niue Assembly
Niue Assembly
The Niue Assembly is the legislature of Niue. It consists of 20 members, 14 representatives of the villages and 6 elected on a common roll. Members are directly elected by universal suffrage, and serve a three year term...
, whose members are elected by approximately 600 registered voters. The assembly consists of 20 total members, 6 elected on a common roll and 14 representatives of the villages
Election management
The election was managed and controlled by the Chief Electoral Officer, Togia SioneholoTogia Sioneholo
Togia Likalika Sioneholo is a Niuean politician who was a Cabinet Minister of Toke Talagi's Government from June 2008 to May 2011 after being elected to the Niue Assembly in the June 2008 general election. He was minister for Community Affairs, Education, Justice, Shipping and Bulk Fuels...
, who is also the Secretary of the Niue Department of Justice, Lands and Survey. However, since Sioneholo was also a candidate, he had to go on leave as required by the Niue Public Service Regulations. Hubert Kalauni took over the control and management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
of the election as Sioneholo's replacement. (Sioneholo successfully won a seat in the Niue Legislative Assembly.)
Timetable
- 22 May 2008 12pm - Closing of Nominations
- 30 May 2008 12pm - Closing Withdrawal of Nominations
- 28 May 2008 - Closing of Registration and Objection of Names in the Electoral Roll.
- 7 June 2008 - Polling Day
Election results
Only three of the six sitting common assembly members retained their seats in the general election. O'Love JacobsenO'Love Jacobsen
Tauveve O’Love Jacobsen is a Niuean politician and diplomat. She is currently Niue's High Commissioner to New Zealand, after serving as a member of the Niue Assembly and a minister in Toke Talagi's government. She was previously a long-standing leading figure in the informal parliamentary...
, who has been a member of the Niue Legislative Assembly
Niue Assembly
The Niue Assembly is the legislature of Niue. It consists of 20 members, 14 representatives of the villages and 6 elected on a common roll. Members are directly elected by universal suffrage, and serve a three year term...
for twenty years and was re-elected, remarked that the election was a call for change by Niuean voters. Jacobsen believed that the election would lead to a new government and a new Premier of Niue
Premier of Niue
The Premier of Niue is Niue's head of government. He or she is elected by the Niue Assembly, and forms a Cabinet consisting of him- or herself and three other members of the Assembly....
. She openly supported Toke Talagi
Toke Talagi
Toke Tufukia Talagi is the current premier of Niue. He was elected premier by the Niue Assembly on 19 June 2008, defeating the standing premier Young Vivian by fourteen votes to five, with one abstaining....
's candidacy for the incoming prime ministership against current Premier Young Vivian
Young Vivian
Mititaiagimene Young Vivian is a Niuean politician who has twice been the premier of his country. Representing the Niue People's Action Party, he defeated sitting premier Sani Lakatani in May 2002 elections. Vivian had previously served as premier for a brief period from 12 December 1992 to 9...
.
One of the three incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
common assembly MPs who failed to be re-elected was Hima Douglas
Hima Douglas
Hima Ikimotu Douglas is a Niuean politician and former common roll member of the Niue Assembly. Douglas served as Niue's first High Commissioner to New Zealand, which is responsible for the island's defense and foreign affairs....
, former High Commissioner to New Zealand, who was unseated by Niue's Secretary of Justice Togia Sioneholo
Togia Sioneholo
Togia Likalika Sioneholo is a Niuean politician who was a Cabinet Minister of Toke Talagi's Government from June 2008 to May 2011 after being elected to the Niue Assembly in the June 2008 general election. He was minister for Community Affairs, Education, Justice, Shipping and Bulk Fuels...
. Two female candidates, Mahetoi Hekau and Esther Pavihi, were elected as new members thereby unseating two incumbent MPs, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson (journalist)
Naea Michael Jackson is a Niuean journalist and former politician.In the 1970s and 1980s, he was government printer and government press photographer in Niue. He published the Tohi Tala Niue, Niue's government-owned weekly newspaper. In 1991, he set up a private printing business, and, in 1993,...
and Krypton Okesene.
In the capital and main village of Alofi
Alofi
Alofi is the capital city of the Pacific Ocean nation of Niue. With a population of 581 , Alofi has the distinction of being the smallest national capital city in terms of population. It consists of the two villages Alofi North and Alofi South, where the government headquarters are located. Alofi...
, challenger Dalton Tagelangi easily defeated the incumbent member in the Alofi South constituency.
Formation of new government
Despite the fact that new members, including Togia Sioneholo, Mahetoi Hekau and Esther Pavihi, were elected to the legislative assembly, no single candidate for the premiershipPremier of Niue
The Premier of Niue is Niue's head of government. He or she is elected by the Niue Assembly, and forms a Cabinet consisting of him- or herself and three other members of the Assembly....
had a clear majority.
The highest polling candidate in the election, incumbent MP Toke Talagi
Toke Talagi
Toke Tufukia Talagi is the current premier of Niue. He was elected premier by the Niue Assembly on 19 June 2008, defeating the standing premier Young Vivian by fourteen votes to five, with one abstaining....
, stated he was considering to challenge Young Vivian
Young Vivian
Mititaiagimene Young Vivian is a Niuean politician who has twice been the premier of his country. Representing the Niue People's Action Party, he defeated sitting premier Sani Lakatani in May 2002 elections. Vivian had previously served as premier for a brief period from 12 December 1992 to 9...
for the premier's post; caretaker Deputy Premier Fisa Pihigia stated he would also stand if Talagi decided to stand, as Pihigia considered himself to be better suited to fend off a challenge from Talagi than Vivian.
Eventually, Talagi and Vivian stood for premier. Talagi was elected on Thursday, June 26, 2008, with fourteen votes to Vivian's five, with one abstaining.
Atapana Siakimotu was returned unopposed as Speaker of the House.
On Thursday 20 June 2008, Hon Premier Toke Talagi announced through TV Niue the other three members of his Cabinet of Ministers, Hon Pokotoa Sipeli, Hon Togia Sioneholo and Hon O'love Tauveve Jacobsen.